Diplomacy

The discussion focused on strengthening India-Iceland relations at a time when the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement is opening new possibilities for trade, investment and manufacturing collaboration. Iceland, as part of the EFTA grouping along with Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, is now positioned to play a larger role in India’s economic outreach to the Nordic and wider European region.

The honour is significant because it is Sweden’s highest distinction conferred on foreign Heads of Government for exceptional public service and contribution towards strengthening relations with Sweden. According to the Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister Modi is also the first Asian leader to receive this award, making the conferment an important diplomatic milestone for India as well as for India-Sweden relations.

Speaking after receiving the award, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to the King and the people of Norway. He dedicated the honour to the historic friendship between India and Norway, describing it as a tribute to the trust, warmth and affection shared by the people of both nations.

Prime Minister Modi was received at Oslo Airport by Prime Minister Støre, a gesture described by the Indian side as symbolic of the warmth in India-Norway ties. The visit is significant because it marks Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Norway and the first prime ministerial visit from India to the country in 43 years.

A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to elevate India-Sweden ties into a Strategic Partnership guided by four pillars: Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security, Next-Generation Economic Partnership, Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity, and Shaping Tomorrow Together – People, Planet, Health and Resilience. These pillars show that the relationship is no longer limited to trade or technology cooperation alone, but is expanding into security, resilient supply chains, climate action, trusted connectivity and future-facing innovation.

India and the Netherlands have formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, adopting

The scale of the relationship has grown sharply in recent years. According to the Ministry of External Affairs’ India–Sweden brief, bilateral goods trade rose from USD 2.86 billion in 2016 to USD 7.75 billion in 2025. Sweden is also listed as the 22nd-largest investor in India, while around 280 Swedish companies now have a business presence in the country. These include major names such as Ericsson, Saab, Volvo, Sandvik, Alfa Laval, IKEA, SKF, ABB, AstraZeneca and Tetra Pak. The same MEA brief notes that Swedish companies have a long record of manufacturing in India and rank among the leading foreign participants in the Make-in-India ecosystem.

The OCI extension is more than a technical consular change. Earlier, many descendants of Indian-origin families in Girmitiya countries faced difficulty proving eligibility when their ancestors had migrated four, five or six generations earlier. By extending eligibility up to the sixth generation for Surinamese people of Indian descent, India has acknowledged that civilisational belonging does not disappear simply because paperwork becomes older than family memory. The Embassy of India in Paramaribo has also stated that people of Indian origin up to the sixth generation can now apply for OCI cards there.

A key focus of the interaction was India’s “women-led development” model. Minister Annapurna Devi said India now recognises women as equal partners and active stakeholders in the country’s growth journey, while also underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms and welfare frameworks for women and children. The Sri Lankan delegation was briefed on India’s major programmes, including Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0.